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Description

Because you perform better when you're dry.

When you're going for a long ride in variable conditions, your best bet is a packable rain shell. But when the forecast calls for unrelenting rain, and you refuse to be kept inside, you'll need something more substantial. Whether a commuter, or a winter training junkie, you'll have all the protection you need with the Showers Pass Elite 2.1 Jacket. And despite its generous coverage and incredible moisture blocking capabilities, it's designed to effectively evacuate sweat. This way, you won't end up soaking from the inside out. This truly is elite-level protection for enduring harsh weather in the saddle.

As anyone who's ridden long and hard in the rain is able to attest, sealing out rain doesn't do much good if your jacket turns into a terrarium as soon as you start pedaling. That's why Showers Pass chose eVent 3L fabric for the Elite 2.1 jacket. eVent is widely respected across outdoor disciplines as one of, if not the most, breathable shell materials around. It accomplishes this feat by having millions of pores per-square-inch, which are small enough to block out beaded water, while being large enough to allow your sweat vapor to evaporate through. And to ensure that the fabric doesn't solely bear the load of controlling the climate inside your jacket, there are vents at the chest and the back in order to provide plentiful airflow.

The Elite 2.1 is, as you'd expect, cut for logging long hours on the bike. This means that there's a drop-tail for deflecting wheel-spray and keeping your backside covered. Meanwhile, the core has a close, conforming fit in order to keep flapping to a minimum, even when you're in the drops. The sleeves are generously long in order to accommodate a stretched out position. And further enhancing the functionality is a zippered pocket at the back, accessible from the right side of the jacket. Smaller items are able to be stored in the zippered media pocket on the chest. Especially useful is the 360-degree 3M Scotchlite reflective paneling, which improves your visibility to motorists in
critical low-light conditions.

The Showers Pass Elite 2.1 Jacket is available in five sizes from Small to XX-Large and in the colors Black, Goldenrod, and Ocean Blue.

Here's what others have to say...

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Great outer shell

Familiarity:
I've used it once or twice and have initial impressions

Fit:
True to size

Def. paid a bit more than others, but from experience I know that you generally will get back you pay for and I already have enough $100ish gear to know I needed to up the budget if I really wanted a shell that would keep me on the roadie this winter.

Initial impression is that this is a solidly made jacket. It's fully wx proof, and even though I don't do much wet riding it's a nice feature to have anyways. As for the "fitted" claim in the description, I would say that's subjective: by European / pro / high performance demanding cyclist standards the fit is probably more "relaxed". But for the majority like me who don't require nor want a tight race fit, you'll be happy with this. After all, it is sealed to keep rain out while also claiming to be breathable and therefore having some real estate inside is going to be required in order to allow adequate air venting when you starting getting warm. I can attest that you can easily layer under the jacket (I expect to have a wool base and a thermal long sleeve jersey on my worst days, and they'll fit just fine) but the material is solid enough that it isn't going to flap around like flag on a gusty day. For me, controlling sweating is always an issue, and I was drawn and am pleased by the various venting options - lengthy pit/torso zips, dual front zippers means you can open up vertically either direction, adj. hook/loop cuffs and a generous but covered back vent. There's also waist tightening bungy cords on either side and another at the neck, plus hook/loop patches around neck for attaching the hood (sold separately). The cut is as should be - dropped tail for coverage, a bit higher in the front so not in way when in aggressive road cycling position, and long sleeves. Goldenrod color is great - highly visible yet fashionable compared to "trashy" neon yellow. I'm 6'0, 230 lbs. with broad shoulders and XL fits perfect. XXL was way to big (tried both).

PS - there is some weight on this jacket compared to the pro / high performance jackets out there which may cost similar. At approx. 440g it's not the lightest but far from the heaviest jacket out there. You'd only care about this if you're a high performance pro or a weight weeny!